New Seekers

The New Seekers was an Australian pop group, formed in 1969 by Keith Potger after the break-up of his group, The Seekers. The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but the type of music they performed was not as folk-influenced. The most familiar line-up included Eve Graham, Lyn Paul, Marty Kristian, Peter Doyle and Paul Layton. In addition to having several big hits, the group represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972. Their hit single I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca Cola, appeared 81st on the list of the UK's best-selling singles issued in 2002. It sold just under one million copies in the United Kingdom alone. The version used in the Coca Cola television commercials was credited to The Hillside Singers, as many people of various backgrounds and cultures sang the song, holding Coca Cola bottles on a hilltop in the commercial. I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, was so firmly connected with the Coca Cola product that it became referred to as "The Coke Song" over time. The song was relaunched in Coca Cola commercials in 2005. Other hit singles of the group included Look What They've Done To My Song Ma, Beautiful People and The Nickel Song, all written by Melanie. The New Seekers went on to sell over 25 million records worldwide, and equalled the eight UK Top Twenty entries by The Seekers. Indeed, they released four albums during 1972 alone. Some believe The New Seekers were the inspiration for the parodic The New Main Street Singers, in the 2003 film A Mighty Wind.